Machine for jointing staves.



No. 693,893. Patented Feb. 25, 1902. I

H. u. PALMER. MACHINE FOR JDINTING STAVES.

(Application and May 29. 1901.) (No Model.) 3 sheets sheet l.

| I z l l Patented Feb. 25,1902.

H. U. PALMER. MACHINE FOR JOINTIN'G STAVBS'.

(.No Model.)

a Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Feb. 25, I902.

3 Shoats $hodt 3r E N @N H. U. PALMER. MACHINE FOB JOINTING STLAVES.

I (Application filed May 20, 1901.) ,7

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

HENRYU. PALMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR JOINTING STAVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,893, dated February25, 1902. Application filed May 20, 1901. Serial No. 60,989. (No model.)

v citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county ofKings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Jointing Staves, fully described andrepresentedin the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide an'improved machinefor jointing staves, and especially to secure certainty in the jointingoperation and high speed, while avoiding the liability of injury to thestaves.

While my jointing mechanism may be used in jointing staves of anymaterial and is a valuable improvement in the art, even in jointing elmstaves, it has been designed by me in connection with what'are known asveener staves, made from wood cut in cylindrical veneers from logs whichare usually of the Southern gum-tree. Such veneer staves are coming intogeneral use and must super sede largely the elm and similar staves whichhave previously been used, as wood proper for'making such staves isbecoming scarce and expensive. Injointing such veneer staves greatdifficulty has been found on account of the character of the wood andits lack of grain to aid in making the joint. With knifejointers thewood of veneer staves is liable to split or cut irregularly and to breakaway on the side of the stave on which the cut is completed, while theresult of a hand or wheel jointer is to make the joint of veneer stavesso smooth that they will not hold in setting up the barrel, so that inmany cases it has been found necessary to chalk the edges of the stavesto secure the desired grip. It is found also that pressing such stavesto a-uniform shape in a jointing-machine employing forms curved to bendthe stave into substantially bilge form and hold it under pressure whilejointing is liable to break these veneer staves, as they varyconsiderably in form, and even if the staves were of uniform shape thebending longitudinally to bilge form would cause breakage;

An important feature of the present invention consists in jointing thestaves WltllOLll? bending the staves or applying any considerablepressure fiatwise of the stave, thus avoiding dangerof breaking thestaves. Many features of my improved machine, however, are applicable inmachines of those classes in which the stave is pressed into form duringjointing, and the invention includes various features of constructionand combinations of parts which areof such general application,

the features forming the invention will then be specifically pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of themachine with the staveholder partly broken away to show theconstruction. Fig. 2is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalcentral section of the jointing mechanism on the line 3 ofFig. 1 with astave in-position for jointing. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectionthrough thestaveholder on the line 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a verticalcross-section through the jointing mechanism on the line 5 of Fig. 1.Figs. (Sand 7 are views similar to Fig. 5, showingthe jointing mechanismin different positions. Fig 8 is a cross-section on the line 8 of Fig.1, showing the parts in the same position as in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 9 isa detail horizontal section on the line 9 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A is the frame of the machine, in which aremounted the jointing and feeding mechanisms, with the holder B for thepile of stavesx to be jointed. The staves are fed singlyto the jointingmechanism by a reciprocating slide 0, actuated by a lever D, which isconnected to the slide 0 by link 10, and is actuated from 'themain jacent surfaces of the bed and abutment are curved transversely to thestave to approximately the normal stave curve and the side edges arecurved longitudinally of the stave, so as to coact with curvedjointing-knives in cutting the stave on the proper longitudinal linesWithout bending the stave longitudinally. The bed and abutment are eachmade in two parts, onestationary and the other mounted to swing, so thatthe movable parts F G of the bed and abutment may be moved toward thestationary parts F G for the jointing operation and separated andwithdrawn during the feeding operation. The movable parts F G of the bedand abutment are carried byarms H, pivotally mounted on a horizontalaxis on the frame A at 12, and are moved toward the stationary parts, FG by springs 13, connected to studs 1% on the arms H and frame,respectively, at opposite ends of the jointing mechanism, and themovable parts F G of the bed and abutment are moved away from thestationary parts F G against the tension of springs 13 by ahorizontally-rotating cam 6t, which is carried by a vertical stud 16,mounted in a bracket 17 on the stationary part G of the abutment andabout centrally of the length of the abutment, this cam abeing rotatedto separate the parts of the bed and abutment through connectionsconsisting of a crank-arm 18 on the stud 16, connected by link 19 to avertical lever 20, pivoted on a bracket 21 on the frame A, this leverbeing actuated by means presently to be described. The opposite sides ofthe abutment G G formshearing-plates along which the jointing-knivescut, separate metal plates 22 being shown for this purpose, althoughitwill be understood that the opposite sides of the abutment may besuitably formed for this purpose in any desired manner. Thejointing-knives I are mounted to reciprocate along the inclined andcurved sides of the bed F F, one of these knives thus moving toward andfrom the other knife with the movement of the movable part of the bed F,by which the knife is carried. These knives I are mounted in slides 23,in which the knives are adjustable by a slot-and-bolt connection 2a andset-screws 25 below the knives, so that the exact vertical position ofthese jointing-knives can be secured and maintained. The slides 23 arepivotally connected bylinks 26, which are preferably made adjustable, asshown, by turnbuckles 1 to actuating-slides 27, mounted to slidevertically in frame A and carrying at their lower ends rollers 23, bywhich these slides 27 are moved positively up and down by meanspresently to be described.-

The slides 23, carrying the knives I, are held in position and actuatedin their reciprocating movement by guides K, and these guides K aremounted so as to be readily adwhich these results are secured is asfollows Each of these guides K is pivotally mounted at 29, one of theguides on the arms H and the other on the stationary part of the framecarrying the fixed portions of the bed and abutment, and the guides Kare adjusted on these pivots by means of set-screws 30, tapped throughhorizontal arms 31 on the lower ends of the guides K, so as to secure afine adjustment of these guides. the upper ends of the guides K have aslotand-bolt connection 32 with, respectively, the arms H and stationaryframe, so that by For this adjustment loosening the bolts the guides maybe swung to the limit of the slots and then held in position bytightening the bolts. A further lock of the guides K in adjustedposition is secured by the bolts 33, passing through the guides K neartheir lower ends above the pivots 29. The guides K have theinwardly-projecting portions 34': at their upper ends, which serve asstops for the knife-slides 23; but the knives may readily be removed forgrinding or renewal by loosening the set-screws 30 and bolts 32 33, soas to swing the upper ends of the guides K outward away from theabutment, thus providing space between the stops 34 and abutment for theremoval of the knives.

For centering the staves 00 upon the bed F F for the jointing action Iuse rollers b, which are mounted loosely on studs 35 on opposite sidesof the bed, which studs reciprocate verticallyin sleeves 36, mountedrigidly on opposite sides of the abutment G G, so that one of theserollers 12 moves in and out with the movable part of the abutment G. Onthe stationary bed side I preferably use two rollers, as shown,separated sufficiently to get two edge bearings for the stave, so as toavoid all danger of the stave swinging edgewise in feeding in, whichmight result in throwing the stave outof proper position relatively tothe knife, and I thus assure the central position of the stave. It willbe understood, however, that this feature of a centering device withprolonged bearing on one side is not essential to the invention and thata single roller or two or more rollers on each side may be used. Thestuds 35 are reciprocated vertically by bell-crank levers 37, having aslotted connection with pins 2 on the studs and projecting throughvertical slots in the sleeves 36, these bell-crank levers 37 beingconnected by links 38 to vertical levers 39, pivoted on bracket 40 inthe frame, these levers 39 being actuated by means presently to bedescribed.

Turning now to the means fol-actuating the parts of the jointingmechanism, L is a slide moving horizontally below the jointing mechanismon guides 41 in the frame, this slide being shown as actuated from thedrivingshaft S by a grooved cam M, acting on camrod N, connected to theslide L. The slide L carries cams 0 cl at opposite ends, between whichcams are the rollers 28 on slides 27, the

cam c acting through rollers28 to force the slides 27 upward for thejointing action of the knives I and the cams d acting through therollers 28 to draw the slides'27 downward and withdraw the knives afterthe jointing action. This slideL also receives in a recess in its uppersurface the lower ends of the levers 39, so that the reciprocatingmovement of the slide L rocks the levers 39, and thus raises and lowersthe rollers I) through the catch 6, being returned into position againstthe guide and stop 41 behind the catch 6 again after passing the catchby the spring 42, which has one end connected to the lever 20 and theother endto a pin 43 on the frame. The lever 20 is rocked from theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the position shown in dottedlines in the same figure by the rotation of the cam a by the inwardmovement of the movable part of the abutment G under the pressure ofsprings 13, thelower end of the lever 20 being then sprung sidewise, soas to be no longer held by the catch e. The lever 20 is sprung sidewisefor this purpose bya stripf, having an inclined camsurface and mountedon the lever D in such position that the inclined surface will engagethe lever 20 and spring it sidewise beyond the end of catch 6 when thelever D reaches the end of its movement in feeding a stave, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 1.

The operation of the machine will be understood from a briefdes'criptionin connection with the above, Figs. 1 to 5 showing the machine in theposition the parts occupy when a stave has just been out by thejointing-knives, the knives withdrawn, and the machine about to feedforward another stave for jointing, while Fig. '6 shows the parts inposition after a stave ,hasbeen fed in for jointing, and Fig. 7shows theposition of the parts just at the completion of the actionof thejointing-knives. Starting with the position shown in Figs. 1 to 5, thefeeding-slide C is moved forward from the position shown in full linesin Fig. 1 to that shown in dotted lines, thus feeding a stave over thebed in the slot between the bed and abutment, which stave forces out thepreviously-jointed stave. The stave is thus fed in position between therollers 17, which are now in their lower position,directlyoppositetheedgesofthestave. During this feeding operation thetwo parts of the bed and abutment and the rollers 19 are in their outerseparated positions, held apart by the cam a, which cam is now heldagainst being rotated by the catch on the slide L engaging the lower endof lever 20,- as shown in Fig. 9. Just as thefeeding movement iscompleted, however, the trip f on the lever D engages the lever 20 andsprings it sidewise against the tension of spring 42, so as to releaseitfrom the catche and the pressure of the springs 13 on the arms H. Thenthrow inward the movable parts of the bed and abutment F G, with therollers 11, thus rotating cam a and moving the lever 20 from'theposition shown in, full lines in Fig. 9 to that shown in dotted lines inthe same figure. This movementof the movable parts of the bed andabutment and the movable rollers 19 brings the parts into the positionshown in Fig. 6, and thus by the pressure of the rollers b on oppositesides of the stave centers the stave'accurately for the jointingoperation under the spring-pressure of the springs movable jointingknifepositioned under spring-pressure, it will be seen thatthe ma chine isself-adjusting, so that staves of varying widths will be jointedaccurately by the machine. The feed-slide C is now returned to positionvby the lever D and the slide L is movedto the left from the positionshown in Fig. 1 for the jointing operation. As this slide is thus movedthe cams c, engaging the As the stave is thus centered and the rollers28, move the rollers and slides 27 up-.

ward, thus forcing the jointing-knives I I upward along the inclinedsurfaces on the opposite sides of the bed and abutment, thus- Thismovement of the.

jointing the stave. slide L also, through the action of the slides onthe lower ends of the lever 39, rocks the bell-crank levers 37, so as todraw the studs 35 upward in the sleeves 36, and thus raise the rollersbin advance of the j ointing-knives I, so as not to interfere with theactionfof the knives. All of the parts are now in the position shown inFig. 7, in which the stave hasbeen raised against the abutment G G bythe upward movement of the knives and jointed by the latter. nowreturned to the position shown in Fig. 1, the cams 01 during thismovement acting through the rollers 28 to draw the slides 27 andjointing-knives downward, and the slide L also during this movementswinging the levers 39, so as to rock the bell-cranks 37 and carry thestuds 35 downward to bring the rollers 6 again opposite the edges of thestave. During this movement of the 'slide L the catch e also swings thelever 20 from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 to that shownin full lines in the same figure,and thus rotates the cam a from theposition shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to that shown in Fig. 5,so as toseparate the parts of the bed and abutment and the rollers 19 for thefeeding in of another stave, thus restoring all the parts to theposition shown'in Figs. 1 to 5.

IIO

The slide L is My invention provides a'very efficient and rapid machinefor jointing staves, by which an accurate joint maybe secured althoughthe staves differ in width and form, while danger of injurytoevenve'neer staves is avoided. It will be seen that thejointingknivescut from the inside of the stave out ward, so that anybreaking away of the material of the stave on the side at which the cutis completed will injure only the outside of the stave and barrel and agood joint will be secured on the inside of the barrel where it isneeded, the splitting of the material on the outside being immaterial solong as the inside surface and joint'are complete. The stave isaccurately centered and both sides of the stave are jointed at once, sothat both sides of the stave must be similarly cut and all variationswhich might result from a different positioning of the stave in jointingits opposite edges are avoided. While it is not absolutely essentialthat a knife with a straight edge-that is, an edge not curved orinclined fiatwise of the stave-should be used, this is very desirable injointing staves that are not bent longitudinally to bilge form,especially in jointing veneer staves, as there is much less danger ofinjury to the stave if the knife enter and leave the stave at thesametime throughout its length.

While the jointing mechanism and'certain features therein may be usedand form a part ofmy invention without the stave-feeding mechanism andthis jointing mechanism may be fed by hand or any suitable means withthe staves introduced either longitudinally or sidewise, automaticfeeding mechanism is preferably used, and it is found that feeding thestaves longitudinally instead of sidewise has great advantages, in thatwarped staves or staves curved transversely can be handled withcertainty and accuracy, while such staves cause great difficulties infeeding the staves sidewise. Such longitudinal feeding mechanism isespecially important in connection with veneer staves.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the constructionof the machine shown without departing from theinvention defined by theclaims and that certain features of the invention may be embodied inconstructions not employing other features of the invention. \Vhile theuse of two knives for jointing both sides of the stave atone setting ofthe latter is preferable and some of the claims are thus limited andimportant advantages are thus secured, the use of a single knife forjointing one side of a stave is within the broader features of theinvention.

While I prefer to use a bed and abutment made in two parts, so as to beself-adjusting to staves of different widths, as shown, and with one ofthese parts stationary and the other movable, it will be understood thatthis arrangement may be varied and that other changes in theconstruction and relative operation of the stave-holding mechanism andknife or knives may be made while retaining the features claimed.

What I claim is= j j g l. The combination with a bed and abutment fixedrelatively to each other fiatwise of the stave with space between themfor feeding in the stave, of a jointing-knife mounted to out outwardfrom the inner side of the stave, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination with a bed and abutment curved transversely to thestave and fixed relatively to each other fiatwise of the stave withspace between them for feeding in the stave, of a jointing-knife mountedto cut radially outward from the inner side of the stave, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination with a bed and abutment fixed relatively to eachother fiatwise of the stave with space between them for feeding in thestave, of jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave mounted tocut outward from the inner side of the stave, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with a bed and abutment curved transversely to thestave and fixed relatively to each other fiatwise of the.

stave with space between them for-feeding in the stave, ofjointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave mounted to cutradially outward from the inner-side of the stave, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a bed and abutment curved transversely to thestave and having their opposite side edges inclined radiallytransversely to the stave and fixed relatively to each other fiatwise ofthe stave with space between them for feeding in the stave, ofjointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave mounted to cutradially outward from the inner side of the stave and along the edges ofthe bed and abutment, substantially as described. i 6. The combinationwith a bed and abutment curved transversely to the stave and fixedrelatively to each other fiatwise of the stave with space between themfor feeding in the stave, said bed and abutment having side edges curvedlongitudinally of the stave, of curved jointing-knives for the oppositeedges of the stave mounted to cut radially outward from theyinner sideof the stave and along said edges of the bed and abutment, substantiallyas described.

7. The combination with a bed and abutment curved transversely to thestave and straight longitudinally and having their opposite side edgesinclined radially and curved longitudinally, said bed and abutment beingfixed relatively to each other fiatwise of the stave with space betweenthem for feeding in the stave, of curved jointing-knives for theopposite edges of the stave mounted to cut radially outward from theinner side of the stave and along said edges of the bed and abutment,substantially as described.

8. The combination with a bed and abutment curved transversely to thestave and straight longitudinally and having their opposite side edgesinclined radially and curved longitudinally, said bed and abutment beingfixed relatively to each other flatwise of the stave with space betweenthem for feeding in the stave, of curved jointing-knives forthe oppositeedges of the stave having straight edges and mounted to cut radiallyoutward from the inner side of the stave and along said edges of the bedand abutment, substantiallyas described.

9. The combination with an abutment having its opposite side edgesinclined radially and curved longitudinally, of curved jointing-knivesfor the opposite edges of the stave mounted to cut radially outward fromthe in nor side of the stave and along said edges of the abutment,substantially as described.

10. The combination" with an abutment curved transversely to thestaveand straight longitudinally of the stave and having its oppositeside edges inclined radiallyand curved longitudinally, of curvedjointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave having straightedges and mounted to cut radially outward from the inner side of thestave and along said edges of the abutment, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an abutment made in two parts having relativemovement edgewise of the stave, of stave-jointing knives for theopposite edges of the stave having the same relative movement as the twoparts of the abutment, and means for pressing said parts of the abutmenttogether under yielding pressure for the jointing action and separatingthem for the receipt and delivery of staves, substantially as described.7

12. The combination with an abutment made in two parts having relativemovement edgewise of the stave, of stave-jointing knives and centeringdevices for the opposite edges of the stave having the same relativemovement as the two partsof the abutment, and means for pressing saidparts of the abutment and centering devices together under yieldingpressure for the jointing action and separating them for the receipt anddeliveryof staves, substantially as described.

13. The combination with an abutment made in two parts one part beingstationary and the other movable toward and from said stationarypartedgewise of the stave, of jointing-knives for the opposite sides of thestave, one coacting with the stationary part of the abutmentand theother coacting with and carried by the movable part, and means formoving themo vable part toward the stationary part under yieldingpressure for thejointing action and away from the stationary part forthe receipt and delivery of the staves, substantially as described.

14. The combination with an abutment made in two parts one part beingstationary and the other movable toward and from said stationary partedgewise of the stave, of j ointing-knives for the opposite sides of thestave, one coacting with the stationary part of the abutment and theother coacting with and carried by the movable part centering de vicescarried by the movable and stationary parts, and means for movingthe'mova'ble made in two partsone part being'stationary staves,substantially as die;

15. The combination with an abutment and the other mounted to'swingtoward and,

from said stationary part edgewise of the stave, of j ointing-knives forthe opposite sides of the stave, one coactingwith the stationary part ofthe abutmentand the other coacting with and carried by the movable-part,and

means for moving the movable parttoward the stationary part underyielding pressure" for the jointing action and away from the stationarypart for the receipt anddeliver'y of the staves, substantially asdescribed;

t 16. The combination with a an abutment made in two parts one partbeing stationary and the other mounted to swing toward and from saidstationary part edgewise ot' the stave, ofjointing-knives for theopposite sides of the stave, one coacting with the stationary part ofthe abutment and the other coacting with and carried by the movablepart, centering devices carried bythe movable and stationary parts, andmeans for moving the movable part toward the stationary part underyielding pressurefor the jointing action and away from the stationarypart for the receipt and delivery of the staves, substantially asdescribed. I i

17. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave made in two parts having relative movement edgewise of the stave,of stave-jointing knives for the opposite edges of the stave having thesame relative movement as the two parts of the bed and abutment, andmeans for pressing said parts of the bed and abutment together underyielding pressure for the jointing action and separating them for thereceipt and delivery of staves, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave made in two parts having relative movement edgewise of the stave,of stave-jointing knives and centering devices for the opposite edges ofthe stave havingthe same relative movement as. the two parts of the bedand abutment, and means for pressing said parts of the bed and abutmentand centering devices together under yielding pressure for the jointingaction and separating them for the receipt and delivery ot staves,substantially as described.

19. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave made in, two parts one part being stationary and the other movabletoward andfrom said stationary part edgewise of the stave, ofjointingknives for the opposite sides of the stave, one coacting withthe stationary part of the bed and abutment and the other coacting withand carried by the movablepart, centering devices carried by the movableand stationary parts, and means for moving the movable part toward thestationary part under yielding pressure for the jointing action and awayfrom the stationary part for the receipt and delivery of the staves,substantially as described.

20. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave made in two parts one part being stationary and the other mountedto swing toward and from said stationary part edgewise of the stave, ofjointing-knives for the opposite sides of the stave, one coacting withthe stationary part of the bed and abutment and the other coaetiug withand carried by the movable part, and means for moving the movable parttoward the stationary part under yielding pressure for the jointingaction and away from the stationary part for the receipt'and delivery ofthe staves, substantially as described.

i 21. The combination with a bed and abut ment on opposite sides of thestave made in two parts one part being stationary and the other mountedto swing toward and from said stationary part edgewise of the stave, ofjointing-knives for the opposite sides of the stave, one coacting withthe stationary part of the bed and abutment and the other coacting withand carried by the movable part, centen ing devices carried by themovable and stationary parts, and means for moving the movable parttoward the stationary part under yielding pressure for the jointingaction and awayfrom the stationary part for the receipt and delivery ofthe staves, substantially as described.

22. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave, of jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave, andfeeding mechanism for advancing the stave longitudinally between the bedand abutment, substantially as described.

23. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave, of jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave, feedingmechanism for advancing the stave longitudinally between the bed andabutment, and centering guides between which the staves are fed in,substantially as described.

24. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave, of jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave, feedingmechanism for advancing the stave longitudinally between the bed andabutment, centoring-guides between which the staves are fed in, andmeans for moving said centering-guides together to center the stave andare fed in, and means for moving said centering-guides together underyielding pressure to center the stave and moving the guides to releasethe stave, substantially as described.-

26. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave, of jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave, feedingmechanism for advancing the sta ve longitudinally between the bed andabutment, and centering devices on opposite sides of the stave arrangedto alternately center the stave for jointing and release the stave,substantially as described.

27. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave having their opposite side edges inclined radially, ofjointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave mounted to cutradially outward from the inner side of the stave and'along the sideedges of the bed and abutment, substantially as described. i

28. The combination with a bed and abutment on opposite sides of thestave having their opposite side edges inclined radially and curvedlongitudinally of the stave, of curved jointing-knives for the oppositeedges of the stave mounted to cut radiallyoutward from the inner side ofthe stave and along the side edges of the bed and abutment,substantially as described. i i

29. The combination with a bed andabutment having their opposite sideedges inposite edges of the stave mounted to cut radially along the sideedges of the bed and abutment, feeding mechanism for advancing thestaves longitudinally between the bed and abutment, and centeringdevices for pressing the stave into central position relatively to theknives, substantially as described. 31. The combination withstave-holding mechanism and reciprocating jointing-knives for theopposite edges of the stave, of feeding mechanism for advancing thestaves longitudinally to the holding mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

32. The combination with stave holding mechanism and reciprocating jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave, of feeding mechanismfor advancing the staves longitudinally to the holding mechanism, andcentering devices for centering the staves relatively to the knives,substantially as described.

33. The combination with stave-holding mechanism and reciprocating jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave, of feeding mechanismfor advancing the staveslongitudinallytotheholdingmechanism,centeringguides, between which thestaves are fed in,

i and means for moving said centering-guides together to center thestave and moving the guides to release the staves, substantially asdescribed.

34:. The combination with stave-holding mechanism and reciprocating jointing-knives for the opposite edges of the stave, of feeding mechanismfor advancing the staves longitudinally to the holding mechanism,centering-guides between which the staves are fed in, and means formoving said centering guides together under yielding pressure to centerthe stave and moving the guides to release the stave, substantially asdescribed.

35. The combination with the abutment having the stationary part G andmovable part G, of centering devices I) carried by the parts, meansfol-pressing the parts G, G and devices together and separating them,and means for reciprocating said devices flatwise of the stave to movethe devices away from the stave for the jointing operation and returnthe devices for centering the stave, substantially as described.

36. The combination with the bed and abutment having the stationaryparts F, G and movable parts F, G, of centering devices 1) carried bythe parts, means for pressing the parts F, F and G, G and devicestogether and separating them, and means for reciprocating said devicesflatwise of the stave to move the devices away from the stave for thejointing operation and return the devices for centering the stave,substantially as described.

37. The combination with the bed and abutment having the stationaryparts F, G and movable parts F, G, of centering devices I) carried bythe parts, jointing-knives I, means for moving the parts F, G andcentering devices toward and from each other, and means forreciprocating said centering devices in the line of movement of theknives, substantially as described.

38. The combination with the bed and abutment having the stationaryparts F, G, and

movable part-s F, G, of centering devices I) together under yieldingpressure and sepa rating the parts, substantially as described. 40. Thecombination with knife I and slide 23 carrying said knife, of pivotedguides K for said slide, means for adjusting said guides toward and fromsaid knife, and means for adjusting said knife edgewise, substantiallyas described.

41. The combination with knife I and slide 23 carrying saidknife, ofpivoted guides K for said slide, stops 34: onsaid guides, and means foradjusting said guides toward and from said knife, substantially asdescribed.

42. The combination with knife I,of pivoted guide K having arm 31,set-screws 30 for adjusting said guide, and slotted-bolt connection 32for locking said guide, substantially as described.

43. The combination with knife I, of pivoted guide K having arm 31,set-screw 30 for adj usting said guide, and slotted-bolt connection 32and bolt 33 for locking said guide, substantially as described.

44. The combination with the jointing knives and centering-guides, of aslide provided with cams for actuating said knives, and connectionsbetween said slide and centering devices for moving them ahead of theknives and returning them to position, sub-- stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

'HENRY U. PALMER.

Witnesses:

S. WINTHAL, T. F. KEHOE.

